Research Scientist level 3/4

0894 DS - MP - ABL - Rocket Center; United States; On-site; USD 98,000 - 184,000; Full time

Job summary

Northrop Grumman seeks a Principal/Sr. Principal Research Scientist at the Rocket Center, WV site, to lead solid rocket propellant and explosive/warhead development from subscale to production.

The role requires collaboration with cross-functional teams and effective communication of results. Qualifications include a degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or Materials Science with 5–8 years depending on level, plus the ability to obtain a Secret Clearance (US citizenship).

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science or related field.
• 5 years with BS; 3 years with MS; 0 years with PhD for Level 3; 8/6/4 years for Level 4 depending on degree.
• Ability to obtain a Secret Clearance which requires US Citizenship as a pre-requisite.

Responsibilities

• Manage solid rocket propellant and explosive/warhead development from subscale through production.
• Formulate and tailor both existing and novel compositions of propellants, explosives, rocket case bond liners, thermal insulation, and adhesives.
• Proactively interact within cross-functional program teams as a materials expert.
• Interface with internal and external customers.
• Design experiments and perform statistical analysis of physical and chemical data.
• Document work in technical reports and communicate results to peers, teams, and customers.

Skills

Propellant development

Materials expert

Statistical analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Education

Chemical Engineering

Chemistry

Materials Science

Tools

JMP

Python

SQL

LIMS

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time Description At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

This position in on site at our Rocket Center, WV location. No remote opportunities available for this position.

Position Summary

• Manage solid rocket propellant and explosive/warhead development from subscale through production
• Formulate and tailor both existing and novel compositions of: propellants, explosives, rocket case bond liners, thermal rubber insulations, and adhesives
• Proactively interact within cross-functional program teams as a materials expert
• Interface with internal and external customers
• Design experiments and perform statistical based analysis of physical and chemical technical data
• Document work in technical reports, prepare presentations, and effectively communicate results to technical peers, program teams, and customers
• Perform duties within industry specific regulations regarding safety, product and material requirements, and plant operations standards
• Take responsibility for assuring quality, cost effectiveness, and timely completion of projects
• Perform technical planning, cost estimation, and general proposal support for new business captures

Basic Qualifications

• Principal Research Scientist(Level 3) Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science or related science field 5 years of experience with a BS; 3 years of experience with a Masters; 0 years of experience with a PhD Ability to obtain a Secret Clearance which requires US Citizenship as a pre-requisite
• Sr. Principal Research Scientist(Level 4) Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science or related science field 8 years of experience with a BS; 6 years of experience with a Masters; 4 years of experience with a PhD Ability to obtain a Secret Clearance which requires US Citizenship as a pre-requisite

Skills

• Strong verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills necessary to effectively collaborate in a team environment
• Ability and experience working effectively under deadlines, with considerable latitude in determining technical objectives and a track record of delivering results
• Effective at managing and executing several challenging projects simultaneously, and with competing priorities
• High ethical standards of work and personal conduct
• Willingness to work outside of standard work hours when needed to resolve issues
• Proficiency in MS office tools (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Able to obtain a Secret Clearance which requires U.S. Citizenship as a prerequisite
• It is desirable for a candidate to meet 1 more or of these criteria: Experience with solid rocket propellant or PBX explosives / Warheads Experience with solid fuel ram jet technology Experience with data science, machine learning, or working with large data sets Understanding of relevant chemistries including elements of: polymer, organic, physical, and inorganic Understanding of relevant physical properties, measurements, characterization, and phenomena including: rheology, mixing, properties of particles, mechanics of viscoelastic materials Familiarity with chemical and physical analytical techniques such as: FTIR, GPC, GC, surface area, particle size, DSC, TGA Familiarity with exotherm behavior of energetic materials during DSC/SDT analysis Proficiency in with JMP software, or other statistical analysis software Experience with programing languages (Python, SQL) Understanding of Statistical Process Control (SPC) Experience as a user or architect of a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)

Primary Level Salary Range: $98,400.00 - $147,600.00

Secondary Level Salary Range: $122,800.00 - $184,200.00

The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.

The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.

Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO.

U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

We are a pioneering company. With careers across all areas: air, cyber, land, sea and space – our 90,000 employees work as one to defend and define the future. Northrop Grumman careers and internships are as varied as your interests, with a lifetime of potential that will give you every opportunity to do your best work. Working together with people from many backgrounds, personal passions and disciplines, we share a drive to push the boundaries of science, technology and engineering to meet the ever evolving needs of our customers worldwide.